ESSENDON has re-signed another of its WADA-suspended players, with David Myers turning his back on free agency to re-sign with the Bombers for another three years.
Myers was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but the midfielder is now tied to the Dons until the end of 2019.
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Myers is the fourth of Essendon's 12 suspended players to re-sign with the club, following the lead of Heath Hocking (2017), Travis Colyer (2019) and Cale Hooker (2021).
Essendon coach John Worsfold spoke with Myers on Tuesday night before the announcement was made on Wednesday, and said Myers' conversations with teammates had given him confidence in the club's direction.
"It's another great bit of news for the footy club. We've got a very clear pathway on where we're heading and a big part of it is David Myers. We're rapt that's happened," Worsfold said.
"In my brief chat with him last night, [his reasons] were around the positiveness in the club.
"David had spoken to a lot of his teammates to find out how things are tracking, because obviously he doesn't really know where we're at now, and he saw what we're starting to put in place.
"He had his chat with all the players to find out how they found things and he was rapt with the response. It shows we're on the right path and closer to where we want to get to."
Myers, 26, is from Western Australia and reportedly attracted interest from West Coast.
But his decision is re-sign is a huge boost for the Bombers as they look to hang on to their remaining eight suspended players: Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Michael Hibberd, Brent Stanton, Tom Bellchambers, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears.
As the Bombers approach round eight, Worsfold said Myers had begun to see light at the end of the tunnel with his ban ending in September.
"He's busy, he's getting his study done, but he's going to get a break in like a lot of the guys are," Worsfold said.
"They've mapped out their next couple of months, but as David said, he wants to get through some uni work in the next four weeks before he goes away, then he's back into it. It's not far away."
The news comes as a boost for the Bombers, who were defeated by 81 points last week by the Sydney Swans and on Saturday face the unbeaten North Melbourne in their first game at Etihad Stadium for the season.
Worsfold said young midfielders Darcy Parish and Kyle Langford, who were rested last week, would be available for selection against the Roos, while veteran ruckman Mark Jamar will also be considered for his first game in the red and black.
Jamar has been in strong form at VFL level and last week gathered 22 disposals, six marks and 40 hit-outs in the Bombers' win over Geelong.
Worsfold said the Bombers would consider pairing the 32-year-old with Matthew Leuenberger in a bid to curb the influence of North's star big man Todd Goldstein.
"[Jamar's form has] been building. It was about match fitness for him and he's really showing that now," he said.
